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Operation: Liberate Southleaf Island – Part 06

The following morning, the ferry arrived as scheduled. Sailors were taken aback by the sight of charred debris floating in the harbor—the remnants of the knights’ vessel. However, the fishermen at the harbor displayed the usual—no, more vigor and excitement, which caught the sailors off guard once again.

Incidentally, Gerhardt’s pirate ship was hidden behind the island to avoid alarming the ferry.

The tolling of the bell announcing the arrival of the ferry resounded throughout the island’s residential area.

“Ugh…”

Jillarte, rising from an uncomfortable bed, pressed her hand against her forehead, afflicted by a pounding headache. She poured water from a pitcher sitting on the bedside table into a cup and swiftly downed it in one gulp. It wasn’t enough, so she drank another glass.

“Phew… I had too much to drink…”

Last night, the feast celebrating their victory over the Knights Templar and Gerhardt’s arrival continued late into the night, and Jillarte had managed to withdraw just before completely passing out. She had somehow made her way to the nearby inn she had originally booked and collapsed onto the bed. Her memories around that point were already hazy.

“It looked like everyone was having a good time.”

While numerous lives were lost, they had managed to defend Southleaf Island.

This was Bios’ territory, so there was concern of the Pope or the Knights Templar retaliating, but Gerhardt assured that he would do something about it.

If he said he would handle it, then he would. The Theocracy of Bios would likely view the Confederacy of Einbiest, which had undertaken clear hostile actions, as a more significant threat than this small island.

Moreover, the Maze of Magic Locks would now garner even more attention. With the mystery of the doors unraveled, progress could be made in clearing the sixth floor and beyond. However, Jillarte herself couldn’t join in that endeavor. She needed to think about how to use the massive elemental magic stone that she had obtained for the benefit of Einbiest’s residents. For the current Jillarte, this task was more fulfilling than clearing dungeons.

Her only concern at the moment was Gerhardt. He missed the chance to fight, so he was frustrated.

“It was touch and go for a while, but…”

Suddenly, the bell stopped ringing. In that instant, realization dawned on Jillarte.

“Huh? This bell… the ferry… today… today…? It’s today! It’s today!”

If the ferry had arrived, that meant Hikaru’s party might be leaving the island.

Jillarte started running, her legs wobbling from the hangover, but she managed to maintain her balance. As she stepped onto the main street, she saw intoxicated Beastmen sleeping all over the place. It reeked of alcohol.

“Excuse me.”

Jillarte leaped over the few individuals sprawled at the exit of a building. One of them looked like the black panther Beastman, but she had no time to attend to him. She was unaware of the scuffle that broke out between Beastmen who attempted to take advantage of the unconscious Jillarte, and her companions, who came to her defense. In the end, Gerhardt’s fists knocked all of them out cold.

Jillarte sprinted beneath the clear blue sky.

“Last time, I couldn’t make it in time.”

She recalled how Silver Face disappeared right after the Ruler’s Rumble tournament.

“No, wait… Silver Face… Hikaru was at the Adventurers’ Guild that day! I did make it in time!”

Relying on her intuition, Jillarte had made her way to the Adventurers’ Guild, where she brushed past a black-haired boy. At the time, she hadn’t given it much thought—she believed Silver Face to be an experienced warrior in his thirties—but now she realized that it was Hikaru.

They had passed each other. But her outstretched hand had failed to reach him.

“Today is different… It’s different!”

She entered the final stretch leading to the harbor. Small boats swarmed around the ferry, accepting luggage and ferrying the few passengers to the pier. Conversely, those who were meant to catch the ferry had already boarded.

And there, Jillarte caught sight of the black-haired boy.

I’ve been chasing after Silver Face all this time!

There were countless things she wanted to talk about. Innumerable opinions she yearned to hear. And above all, she simply wished to be by his side.

“Hikaru!”

Despite her bleary state and the lingering effects of her hangover, Jillarte’s voice carried with resounding clarity.

The black-haired boy on the deck turned around, looking mildly surprised. Lavia and Paula, standing beside him, exchanged meaningful glances with her and nodded.

“Ah…”

And then, they left.

“You know I’ll become your competition, right?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t lose.”

I see… I still have a long way to go.

Ideally, she would have jumped onto the ship and abandoned everything to follow Hikaru. At least that was her intention until this very moment as she raced towards the harbor.

But when she saw Lavia’s face, she changed her mind.

I’m far from being competition.

The thought calmed Jillarte’s feverish heart. The meaningful glance Lavia had just shot her was a silent encouragement.

“Hikaru.” Jillarte looked straight into Hikaru’s eyes. “I love him. I love him from the bottom of my heart.”

Her words seemed odd; she sounded as if she was expressing her love for someone else to the black-haired boy.

But that was fine. This was all she could do at the moment.

“I think about him every day, and I’ve spent countless nights just longing for him.”

There was no need to explain who she was referring to. Hikaru wore an indifferent expression, but his ears were flushed.

“But I can’t express my feelings to him yet. He’s done nothing but help me, and I’m not worthy of standing beside him.”

Hikaru opened his mouth to speak.

“Wait. Let me finish.” Jillarte raised her hand. She drew a deep breath and exhaled. “I will better myself. And when I can take pride in who I’ve become…”

Jillarte had made a firm decision in her heart. She would live to achieve her dreams.

“I will come see him. No matter where you are in the world, I will find you.”

She smiled. She wondered if it was a good one.

If possible, she would have immediately boarded the ship and embraced him.

But she had yet to become a rival. She was not powerful enough to help Silver Face and walk alongside him.

This wasn’t an admittance of defeat. Nor a temporary retreat.

It was an assertion of her will—that it might take some time, she might take a slightly longer path, but she would, without a doubt, make it to him.

“Jillarte…”

So please, save that troubled look for later, when I finally appear before you as someone worthy of vying for your affection.

“…”

Hikaru briefly looked up at the sky, then turned his gaze back, wearing a firm look.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Those few words exuded an extraordinary tenderness, warmth, sorrow, and cruelty. It was with those words that Jillarte could forge ahead. She would grow even stronger.

“…”

Jillarte gave a start. For a moment, just an instant, Hikaru seemed as if he would vanish to some far-off realm beyond this world.

Clang, clang, clang! The ferry’s bell tolled. The crew was announcing the vessel’s departure.

Hikaru was looking at her, so Jillarte did not look away. He was leaving, right after they were finally reunited. But she had made up her mind—she would only meet him once she became a person deserving of him. Until then, she had resolved not to see him.

Things were just returning to how they were a couple of days ago. She could endure this pain.

“You’ve done well, Jillarte,” said a low voice—Silver Face’s voice.

She couldn’t take it. Emotions surged uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face instead of words.

The ship set sail. The distance between Jillarte and Hikaru grew wider.

“I swear I’ll come see you again!”

“Yeah.”

“I promise. Don’t forget about me! Even if you do, I’ll make you remember!”

“Yeah.”

“When we meet again…”

The sound of the vessel cleaving through the waves drowned out Jillarte’s voice.

“I have so many things I want to say.”

The ship drifted away. Jillarte plopped down, her gaze fixed on the departing ship and the figure aboard.

He never took her eyes off of her.